Since Cory Monteith’s (Finn) unexpected death a little over a year ago from a toxic mix of heroin and alcohol at the age of 31, his mother, Ann McGregor, has been grieving privately. But with the recent one-year anniversary of Cory’s passing on July 13, Ann decided it was finally time to tell the world a bit more about the son she affectionately called “Baby Bear.”

The British Columbia resident sat down for an exclusive interview with ABC News’ Bianna Golodryga and said the pain of Cory’s death is still fresh, though she has slowly begun to accept it. “The loss is horrendous … until three days ago I couldn't look at a picture of Cory,” the 63-year-old revealed. “So there's been progress.”

When asked if she could discuss the night she found out Cory had died, Ann declined and held back tears, but she did say she’s still in touch with Cory’s former girlfriend and Glee co-star, Lea Michele (Rachel), via texts and emails. “She’s hurting too … you see the sadness,” she said. “I know her pain.”

Ann also revealed that while she doesn’t fault Hollywood for Cory’s death — “I don't think blame is a good thing to do; that was his choice” — she suspects he was “easing himself out of it” because he was planning to sign a lease on a place in Vancouver before he died.

As for the origins of the drug use that ultimately killed him, Anne suspects Cory was yearning for a relationship with his father, Joe Monteith. “[When] Cory was 15, he did a code blue,” Ann recalled, referring to an overdose in which her son almost died. “And I think that was the turning point. He had a lot of emotional things he was trying to figure out — a lot of it was he really wanted a relationship with his father. I think when a child gets invalidated they keep reaching even harder. They want to find out why.”

Joe, who was not invited to Cory’s memorial after his death, recently said he still has “the empty feeling inside,” but Ann claims Joe never showed any interest in Cory’s life until his son became successful.

Ann admitted she hasn’t been able to watch the Glee tribute to Cory that aired back in October, but she knows her son was “pretty amazing.” “I'm still in awe,” she said of Cory and his talents. “I always will be.”

We’ll always be in awe of Cory’s talent, generosity, and spirit as well, and although we know these past 12 months have been incredibly difficult for Ann, we’re glad she’s slowly starting to heal.

For more from Ann, watch the complete interview below and then leave your thoughts in the comments.